Behind The Counter, Episode 1: The Story Behind Hamiedog

Every business has an official version of how it began. Then there is the version told by the people who were actually there. For the first episode of Behind The Counter, we thought there was only one sensible place to start: the story behind Hamiedog.

And there was only one sensible person to join Scott for that conversation: Maz.

Officially, Maz is Hamiedog's assistant manager. She is also Scott's mam, a familiar face to many of our customers and, depending on whom you ask, the person who really keeps the place running.

Starting at the beginning

Hamiedog opened at 77 Park View in October 2016. At the time, Park View looked rather different with more empty units, the Spanish City was still derelict and independent high streets were facing an uncertain future.

Opening a menswear shop was a gamble.

There were no investors, no national name behind the business and certainly no guarantee that anyone would actually walk through the door.

There was simply an idea, a shop unit and a belief that people still wanted independent businesses run by real people.

And now, ten years later, Scott and Maz sat down for the first time to talk about how it all happened.

One conversation became a double-length episode

We expected the recording to last around half an hour. But over sixty minutes later and we were still talking.

There were stories about the early days, memories of Park View, the move from number 77 to 85, the challenges and the laughs.

It's an honest look back at the last ten years, told by the two people who were there at the very start.

No script, no rehearsal

One of the ideas for the podcast is that the best conversations rarely follow a carefully prepared script. This episode was no exception.

We had a very brief list of notes to help keep things moving but there were no rehearsed answers and no attempt to make the Hamiedog story sound more polished than it really was. In other words, it sounds like a normal conversation between two people.

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Why start with our own story?

Before inviting other people to share their experiences, it felt right to explain where Behind the Counter came from.

For over ten years, Hamiedog has been shaped by conversations. Some begin with somebody looking for a t-shirt and end up with a discussion about business, health, relationships, music, family life or what has happened on Park View this week.

The clothes may bring people into the shop but the conversations are often the part that everyone remembers.

That is the atmosphere we want the podcast to capture.

What is Behind The Counter?

Behind the Counter is the Hamiedog podcast, recorded at Park View in Whitley Bay. It features honest and relaxed conversations with:

• Independent business owners

• Local characters

• Creative people

• Community volunteers

• Hamiedog customers

• People with unusual interests

• Anyone with a story, experience or opinion worth sharing

Guests do not need thousands of followers, professional media training or a carefully rehearsed life story. They simply need to be willing to have a proper conversation.

What comes next?

The first Hamiedog conversation is only the beginning.

We have further chats planned to discuss men's health and some of the issues men still find difficult to talk about, making the jump to launching your own business, and probably many more appearances from Maz!

Some stories will be lighthearted, others will tackle more serious subjects.

All of them will begin in the same way: two people sitting down and talking.

Join the conversation

If you enjoy the first episode, please follow the podcast to be notified when new episodes drop. You can also help by sharing the episode with someone who might enjoy it, leaving a rating or review, suggesting a future guest, sending us a subject you'd like us to discuss or putting yourself forward for a conversation.

You don't need podcast experience, and there's no pressure to commit before having an informal chat with us. If you're based in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside or the wider North East and have a story to tell - we'd love to hear from you.

This is Behind The Counter. Real talk, local voices. And this is where the story begins.